Emeritus Professor Erik
Odeblad, Department of Medical Biophysics, University of
Umeň, S-90187, Umeň, Sweden, has described his
observations on the ageing of the cervix.

Ageing
and Rejuvenation

The cervix undergoes a natural process of development and
ageing. The area of the cervix given over to the mucus
secreting crypts gradually diminishes from maturity. The
number of S crypts decreases
from teenage. They are first replaced by L crypts starting at the base of the cervix. Later G crypts replace the L crypts.

"The L replaces S and G
replaces L transformations are partially reversed by
changes during pregnancy, but they are partially
accelerated by the Pill. These circumstances may be
simply stated by the expression: a pregancy rejuvenates
the cervix by 2-3 years, but for each year the Pill is
taken, the cervix ages by an extra year." ("The Discovery of Different Types of
Cervical Mucus and the Billings Method",
Professor Erik Odeblad, Bulletin
of the Natural Family Council of Victoria, ISSN
0321-7567, Vol 21 No 3 September 1994, pp3-35)

For a
woman who goes through life without pregnancy or use of
the pill the following graph gives a representative
profile of cervical crpyts.

Portion of
Cervix occupied by active crypts

Age
in years

For a
woman who goes through life with four pregnancies and no
use of the pill the following graph gives a
representative profile of cervical crpyts.

Portion of
Cervix occupied by active crypts

Age
in years

For a
woman who goes through life without pregnancy and uses
the pill for ten years the following graph gives a
representative profile of cervical crpyts.

Portion of
Cervix occupied by active crypts

Age
in years

Effects
of Contraceptive Pills on the Cervix

"The study of the effects of contraceptive
pills on the cervix is a difficult task. A considerable
amount of work is required for each patient and the time
required spans many years, up to 10 years or more. Many
women also want to change to other pills or to other
methods of contraception, or perhaps now want to become
pregnant. It also happens that some pills are withdrawn
from the market. To these difficulties are added the
normal age changes in the cervix and the dynamic
processes which are of constant occurrence. After 3 and
up to 15 months of contraceptive pill use, there is a
greater loss of the S crypt cells than can be
replaced." ("Some Notes on the Cervical Crypts", Dr E.
Odeblad, Bulletin of the
Ovulation Method Research and Reference Centre of
Australia, Vol 24 No 2 June 1997, p31)

Regression when taking the Pill is
different for estrogen-dependent crypts (L and S) and
progesteron-dependent crypts (G) which may in part
overdevelop.